I am a PhD student researching the ecology, physiology, and genetics of Texas native resurrection grass Tripogonella spicata. Resurrection plants have the amazing ability to systematically dry out during drought, allowing them to protect and rehydrate desiccated tissue and resume normal function in a matter of hours after rainfall (desiccation tolerance). My research focuses on the genetic and phenotypic variation in the Texas population of T. spicata, the physiological and genetic response to repeated bouts of desiccation and rehydration, and the ecology of resurrection plant communities.